Real Madrid suffered a devastating 4–3 loss to FC Barcelona on Matchday 35 of 38 in La Liga, a pivotal result that virtually handed the league title to the Catalan side. The defeat marked Madrid’s third straight loss to their rivals this season—despite a hat trick from Kylian Mbappé, the club’s lone goalscorer on the night.
Mbappe, who continues to shine in his debut campaign with Los Blancos, reacted to the loss with a message on Instagram: “Painful but we will come back. ¡Hala Madrid!” The French superstar, clearly emotional after the defeat, remains focused on the future.
Madrid opened the match strongly, with Mbappe scoring twice early in what looked like a statement performance. The goals reinforced his status as one of the best players in the world, even as some critics continue to question whether he’s reached his peak form. He completed his hat trick in the second half, bringing Madrid within striking distance, but the team ultimately failed to generate enough chances to complete the comeback.
Kylian Mbappe instagram post
Mbappe makes history in defeat
Despite the loss, Mbappe made history. With his three goals, he surpassed Iván Zamorano’s long-standing record for most goals scored in a debut season with Real Madrid. The achievement underscores Mbappe’s impact in his first year with the club—even as the season ends in disappointment.
- Kylian Mbappe (2024–25): 39 goals in 53 matches
- Iván Zamorano (1992–93): 37 goals in 45 matches
see also
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal makes subtle self-criticism after Clasico victory over Real Madrid
Trouble mounts for Real Madrid
The loss all but eliminates Real Madrid from La Liga title contention, but that wasn’t the only bad news. According to Fabrizio Romano, star forward Vinícius Jr. will miss the next two matches due to an ankle sprain. Lucas Vázquez also picked up an injury, further thinning a squad already plagued by absences.
The injury list includes Aurelien Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and David Alaba—leaving Madrid with a depleted roster heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Ancelotti officially departs for Brazil
In a move long expected, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially named Carlo Ancelotti as the next head coach of the national team. The Italian leaves Real Madrid at the end of the season and will take charge of Brazil’s senior squad for the remainder of CONMEBOL soccer World Cup qualifying. Ancelotti replaces Dorival Júnior, who was dismissed on March 28, 2025.
With Ancelotti’s exit confirmed and Xabi Alonso rumored to be his successor, Real Madrid’s future hangs on the development of its young stars—and a healthy return from its growing list of injured starters.
